Overview: The article “How To Be Disabled, According to Stock Photography”, is a satirical look at how the internet and stock photography has continued to stereotype people with disabilities, and the dis/abilities themselves.
Time Needed: 10-15 Minutes
Setup Needs: None
A/V Needs: None
Materials Needed: Distributed copies of the photos in the article, “How To Be Disabled, According to Stock Photography”
Instructions: Print out copies of the photos or make them available electronically. The article is satirical, and meant to be tongue-in-cheek; if you distribute the article, make sure that is clear.
Present the article and/or the photos in it and have a discussion around the photos.
Discussion Prompts:
1. What do you notice about the photos in this article?
2. Which aspects of dis/ability are well represented? Which aspects of dis/ability are not well represented?
3. How does this article shift how you see dis/ability represented in media?
4. Are there other aspects of identity that we filter into stereotypical ways of being?
For Facilitator
1. Are there other misrepresentations of dis/ability that you could provide?
2. How could you build some accountability measures into this conversation? What are some ways to keep the conversation going?
3. This article was written by a person that identifies as “being disabled”. How would the tone of the article change if it was not written by a person with disabilities?